Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-06-23
"FRENCHY."
A Little Drama from Life in a Min
ing Camp.


canyon. The day, while the occupa-
tons of the rest Of the week went on
very much as usual, wore little differ
ont look from other days. Trade was,
II any thing. ra.her more active; there
was more going and coming, more
loungers clustered about the saloons.
A certain slicked-up appearance was
noticed, for however careless men may
otherwise be of the first day Of the
week, they seldom fail to respect that
part of its observance which forms
their earliest recollections Of 1.-THE
being obliged TO wear their best clothes.
Among group Of miners. in front
of the main saloon, stood man of
perhaps five and twenty years, deviat-
ing entirely from the prevailing type.
Coarsely dressed he was, as were the
others, but his checked wooden shirt,
worn without suspcnders, seemed,
though not over-clean, to have a GER
tain look about il neither slouchy nor
shapcless, as were the garments Of the
rest. A little above the average height,
symmetrical Of form, with short,
glistening black hair and smooth face,
he was a marked figure in this compa-
my Of adventurers, among which might
be seen representatives from a dozen
American States and half as many
from the States of Europe.
The subject OF discourse was the
alleged discovery of rich gold deposits
in Dutch Guiana. The canyon was
poor The mines. mostly those Of low
ores, were irregularly worked or idle
altogether. The miners, many Of them
in debt, and tired Of prospecting any
longer in what they called a played
out country, ready TO leave for Fonzer
river, Dutch Guiana, or any where
else providing they could obtain the
means of getting there.
The most interested member of the
group was the mau already spoken of,
who was known as Frenchy. Several
months before, while passing smelt-
ing furnace at the mouth Of the can
yon. heard some one therein whist
ling the drinking song from La Trsv-
iata, which sounded very strangely TO
my ears in those parts. Soon after,
while exploring a narrow aud rugged
gulch opening into the main canyon,
anne upon a miners cabin. the oceu
pant Of which was driving tnnne
into the side Of the mountain few
rods away. Upon my appearance h6
stopped work and invited me into his
cabin, himself taking pail and going
10 a spring near by for water where.
with TO prepare dinner. During hi
absence. while watching the lire-plac'
light mp with the newly-Iaade flames
had fallen 10 humming the air /
Balen in Trovatore, when LOOKING
round bchcld my entertainer silently
regarding me in the doorway
''Can you sing it?" he asked.
'Oh, no." Ireplied. Il can not sim
any thing"
Thereurpn, setting down his pail
he himself sang the air. in rich BARR
tone voice, with fine effect. Then / wa
certain who IL was that had whistle
Nerdcs music in the smelter. This wa
my first meeting with Frenchy.
lie was the son Of Roman noble, o
liberal politics, who had lost bot
property and life by the insurrectio
Of 1913. Thrown upon the worl,
while child. he had served in 6otl
the Italian and Spanish naves AM
with the French army in Mexico. frou
which he had drifted 10 California, an'
from thence TO the mines Of the in
terior lie constantly gave eyidenc
Of former refined associations; pos
sossed all the emotional susceptibilit
Of his race, and was withal one of tn
most handsome men have ever seen
About this time there came into IN
canyon and began working an aban
boncd placer gold nine. Portuguese
who dwelt with his family in a 10,
cabin hard by. The family, besid
himself. consisted Of a wife and severa
children. the oldest Of which was
daughter of seventeen or eightee
years. This girl, though ignorant q
social refinement possessed naturs
grace and real beauty Of person, =
that the male portion Of Galena Canyon
accustomed only 10 China women AM
harrldans Of tho mining camp, wer
soon, all, more or less, enamored Z
ibe pretty Portuguese.
This. Tor tho most part, went N
farther than smile % compliuien
given the young woman IN gratitud
Tor iho warming Of hearts long stag
mani, ~ they passed her going 10 an
fio from her fathers work, or assisVn
1vf molher outside iholr cabin door
There wvre several. however, anon